The influx of cheap, imported produce to Australia is continuing to rise, placing significant pressure on local producers.
A new report from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) indicates that processed fruit and vegetables contributed up to 15 percent of food imports between 2010 and 2012, with New Zealand produce making up the bulk of the imports.
According to Ausveg, the value of imported processed fruit and vegetables has increased by $264 million over a five year period.
AUSVEG spokesperson, Hugh Gurney, believes the government needs to take action in order to secure a future for Australian growers.
“Our sector is facing a crisis. Like dominoes, Australian food processors are toppling over in their tracks. Government action is critical if we want to continue to feed our own country into the very near future,” said Gurney.
He believes the increase in imports may result in significant health risks, as New Zealand imports Chinese produce which is then exported to Australian shores using confusing labelling techniques.
“New Zealand imports Chinese produce, processes it in New Zealand and exports it to countries like Australia under the guise of ‘Made in New Zealand with local and imported ingredients,’” he said
“The safety and quality of vegetables produced in China cannot be guaranteed because they are not grown to the strict standards required here in Australia. It has been reported that Chinese farmers have sprayed produce with formaldehyde – a toxic chemical used to preserve human flesh – to preserve it during periods of unrefrigerated transport.”
Gurney believes a complete overhaul of the Country of Origin Labelling legislation should be made in order to help consumers make educated decisions at the checkout.
Suggestions made earlier this year by consumer group Choice focused on simplifying the labelling system into three categories after a survey indicated that 90 percent of respondents were unsure of where their food comes from.
A Greens Bill from February this year which addressed the issue was criticized by the Australian Food and Grocery Council for failing to protect Aussie jobs and focusing purely on food ingredients. The council believed the bill ignored the value-adding process which takes place with processed foods.
The AFGC claimed that the Bill could potentially mislead consumers and remove any export advantage Australian food manufacturing companies have in promoting premium Australian brands in Asian markets in particular.
The new DAFF report comes at a sensitive time for Australian producers with many farming operations across the continent either in receivership or extreme distress due to the rising Aussie dollar and the continuation of adverse weather conditions.